Chery International’s move to establish a vehicle assembly presence in Rosslyn has been welcomed as a significant boost for South Africa’s automotive sector, with Deputy President Paul Mashatile saying the investment should translate into jobs, skills development and wider participation by local businesses.
Addressing the Chery International Factory Acquisition Celebration in Tshwane, he says the project represents more than the opening of a production facility. He described it as an opportunity to strengthen South Africa’s industrial base, expand local supplier networks and ensure that communities close to the plant share in the benefits of economic growth.
He says the government wants Chery to prioritise South African suppliers as it builds its operations in the country. He placed particular emphasis on youth-owned enterprises, saying young entrepreneurs must be given meaningful access to procurement opportunities, technical support and markets linked to the automotive value chain.
He wants the development should also support businesses in nearby townships, including areas such as Mabopane, Soshanguve, Ga-Rankuwa and Hammanskraal. According to him, industrial investment must not be isolated from surrounding communities, but should create practical pathways for local firms to provide goods and services to major manufacturers.
The Deputy President says the acquisition of the Rosslyn facility followed earlier engagements between government and Chery during South Africa’s investment promotion efforts in China in November 2023. He said those discussions formed part of a broader drive to position the country as a competitive destination for automotive manufacturing and export-led industrial growth.
He says the investment reflects confidence in South Africa’s capabilities, including its established automotive ecosystem, skilled workforce and access to regional markets. He adds that the country remains well placed to serve as a manufacturing gateway into the African continent.
He also highlighted the need for South Africa to keep pace with the global shift towards new energy vehicles. Deputy President Mashatile says international markets are moving quickly and that the country must adapt if it wants to protect its export competitiveness beyond 2035.
The Deputy President welcomed Chery’s interest in new energy vehicle production, saying this aligns with South Africa’s need to modernise its automotive industry while safeguarding jobs and attracting new investment.
Government would continue working to create an environment that supports investors, while also ensuring that industrial development benefits South Africans through employment, training and enterprise development.
He adds that apprenticeships, technical education and advanced manufacturing skills would be central to preparing young people for future opportunities in the sector.
According to him Chery’s Rosslyn investment should ultimately be judged not only by production volumes, but by the extent to which it supports inclusive growth, strengthens local suppliers and creates lasting opportunities for communities around the factory.
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You can't buy happiness but you can buy cars and that's kind of the same thing.
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Young South African motorists are increasingly opting for more affordable and practical vehicles as the cost of living puts pressure on household budgets, while still maintaining comprehensive insurance cover.
The row over BMW’s Spider-Man promotion is not really about superheroes. It is about trust, control and the creeping feeling that modern cars are becoming digital platforms first and private possessions second.
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